Teaching symbolic-experiential family therapy: The personhood of the teacher

This article explores issues in teaching symbolic-experiential family therapy to psychiatric residents. Six controversial contextual issues that arise in teaching any school of family therapy in this setting are presented. Then, the author distinguishes between content and process dimensions in teaching symbolic-experiential family therapy. This distinction helps to clarify the muddle often attendant to attempts to teach this particular area. A major point, to paraphrase Whitaker's famous dictum, is that Teaching symbolic experiential family therapy resides in the personhood of the teacher.     

On teaching psychotherapy via consultation and cotherapy

In this article Dr. Whitaker presents his basic assumptions about teaching psychotherapy. He discusses his expectations of himself and his trainees in the teaching relationship and how he attempts to empower the trainee in his/her professional growth. Following this, Dr. Garfield joins Dr. Whitaker in a dialogue about consultation and cotherapy.     

Is valentine still doubtful? A workshop model for children of divorce

We present this eight-session structured workshop format aimed at school-aged children of divorce who are considered psychologically healthy by family and teachers, in which we review the situations most frequently encountered by these families.In the workshop we offer an understanding vision of divorce while providing the children with the experience of working with therapists who are able to deal with highly troublesome issues in a caring atmosphere.Acknowledgements are expressed to Bernardita Cruz, school counselor, and Ilana Meler and Patricia Tahl, child psychologists.     

Working with families on an inpatient psychiatric unit for children: Hospital staff members are family therapists,too

Inpatient psychiatric units for children can be potent agents for family change. The activities of nursing, education, and activity therapy staff are an important addition to a program of formal family therapy in psychiatric hospitals. These modalities must be organized into a family framework so that insights and achievements from one arena may be generalized to another.     

The effects of intrafamily threats on therapy

Family members often threaten one another during the course of therapy. Such intrafamily threats can cause anxiety for the therapist and disrupt treatment. Examples of commonly encountered threats are given and their management discussed.     

The Impact of Parental Suicide on Child and Adolescent Offspring

Child and adolescent survivors of parental suicide experience two stressful events simultaneously: (1) the loss of a primary caregiver, and (2) suicidal death of a significant person. These youths are thought to be at increased risk for mental health problems, but a systematic review of studies on these survivors has not yet been conducted. A comprehensive search for published literature identified nine studies. The existent studies provided modest yet inconsistent evidence on the impact of parental suicide on offspring psychiatric and psychosocial outcomes. More methodologically rigorous research is needed to inform and guide postvention efforts for these survivors.     

Recent Suicidal Ideation Among Patients in an Inner City Emergency Department

The rates and associated features of suicidal ideation among 5,641 patients seeking routine, nonsuicide related care in an inner‐city emergency department were examined. Approximately 8% of patients seeking routine care in the emergency department reported some form of suicidal ideation within the past 2 weeks. Suicidal ideation was common in individuals who were single with poorer mental health, had higher depression, and had received some drug or alcohol treatment in the past 3 months or had used cocaine or marijuana in the past 30 days. Improved screening procedures could help to identify routine care patients who are at risk for suicide.